Families Advent Reading Plan

This Advent, we invite you to join the global church in anticipating the birth of Jesus together! Below you’ll find a family reading plan that explores the story of God’s people in the Bible, and all the people and promises that lead up to Jesus being born as a baby. Some of these beautiful stories are quite lengthy for young readers, so we have provided options for the full reading (in the title), story highlights, and where needed, a very short abbreviated reading. Where available, we have also included the title of the relevant story from Jesus Storybook Bible.

How to Use This Reading Plan

Our hope is that you will use this reading plan to β€œmark a moment” in your day, accompanying some set apart time in your day to acknowledge Advent. A few ideas:
  • Read the day’s passage or story when you open the door of an Advent Calendar (chocolate or otherwise!) for the day
  • Slowly decorate your Christmas tree throughout the month of December, reading a story each time you add an ornament
  • Create your own Jesse tree. For each story, create a small ornament to add to your tree. There are a number of online resources dedicated to this topic. We cannot vouch for the content of all resources, but here are a few we found:
  • Simply sit in front of a festive area of your home (such as a lit Christmas tree) and read a story before bed each night.
  • Depending on the age of the children in your home, you can engage in discussion questions like β€œWhat does this story tell us about God?” β€œWhat do you think it was like to be [insert person’s name here]?” β€œWhat’s one thing you’re excited for about Christmas?”

Advent Reading Plan
Download PDF Version

Dec 1 - Creation: Genesis 1–2
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Beginning: A Perfect Home
  • Story Highlights: Gen 1v1–5; 26–27
Dec 2 - Fall: Genesis 3
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Terrible Lie
  • Abbreviated Reading: Gen 3v6–9
Dec 3 - Noah: Genesis 6–8
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: A New Beginning
  • Story Highlights: Gen 6v5–8, 17–18; Gen 7v6–12, Gen 8v1–5, 15–17; Gen 9v12–16
Dec 4 - Abraham & Sarah: Genesis 17–21
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: Son of Laughter
  • Story Highlights: Gen 17v1–7, 18v12–15, 21v1–7
  • Abbreviated Reading: Gen 21v1–7
Dec 5 - Hagar: Genesis 16 & 21
  • Story Highlights: Gen 16v5–15, Gen 21v9–21
  • Abbreviated Reading: Gen 16v13
Dec 6 - Isaac: Genesis 22v1–19
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Present
Dec 7 - Rachel & Leah: Gen 29
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Girl No One Wanted
  • Story Highlights: Gen 29v16–30v22
  • Abbreviated Reading: Gen 29v31–32
Dec 8 - Joseph: Genesis 37, 39–50
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Forgiving Prince
  • Story Highlights: Gen. 37v23–28; Gen 45v3–15
Dec 9 - Moses & The Exodus: Exodus 1–4, 11–14
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: God to the Rescue! & God Saves the Day
  • Story Highlights: Ex 12v31–33; 14v5–7, 13–14, 21-22, 29–31
  • Abbreviated Reading: Exodus 14v21–22
Dec 10 - Rahab: Joshua 2
  • Abbreviated Reading: Joshua 2v12–15
Dec 11 - Joshua: Joshua 3, 5, and 6
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Warrior Leader
  • Story Highlights: Joshua 6v2–5 &15–20
Dec 12 - Ruth: Ruth 1–4
  • Story Highlights: Ruth 1v1–17; 4v13–17
  • Abbreviated Reading: Ruth 1v16
Dec 13 - Hannah & Samuel: 1 Sam 1 & 1 Sam 2v1–11, 20
  • Story Highlights: 1 Sam 1v10–11, 20 & 1 Sam 2v1–11, 20
  • Abbreviated Reading: 1 Sam 1v10–11, 20 & 1 Sam 2v1–2, 20
Dec 14 - Jesse: 1 Samuel 16
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Teeny Weeny True King
  • Story Highlights: 1 Sam 16v1–13
  • Abbreviated Reading: 1 Sam 16v7 & 13
Dec 15 - David & Goliath: 1 Samuel 17
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Young Hero and the Horrible Giant
  • Story Highlights: 1 Sam 17v12–51
  • Abbreviated Reading: 1 Sam 17v45–49
Dec 16 - Esther: 4v10–17
  • Abbreviated Reading: Esther 4v16
Dec 17 - Daniel: Daniel 6
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: Daniel and the Scary Sleepover
  • Story Highlights: Daniel 6v16–23
  • Abbreviated Reading: Daniel 6v20–23
Dec 18 - Jonah: Jonah 1–3
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: God’s Messenger
  • Story Highlights: Jonah 1v1–13, 17, 2v10, 3v1–5
  • Abbreviated Reading: Jonah 3v2
Dec 19 - Isaiah (The King is Coming): Isaiah 7v14 and Isaiah 9v6–7
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: Operation β€œNo More Tears!”
  • Isaiah 7v14  and Isaiah 9v6–7
Dec 20 - Zechariah and Elizabeth: Luke 1
  • Story Highlights: Luke 1v5–25, 57–79
  • Abbreviated Reading: Luke 1v11–17, 57–59
Dec 21 - Mary: Luke 1v26–56
  • Abbreviated Reading: Luke 1v26–38
Dec 22 - John the Baptist: Matthew 3v1–12
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: Heaven Breaks Through
  • Story Highlights: Matthew 3v1–12
  • Abbreviated Reading: Matt 3v1–3, 11
Dec 23 - Joseph: Matthew 1v18–25
  • Abbreviated Reading: Matt 1v20–21
Dec 24 - Jesus is Born!: Luke 2v1–7
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: He’s here!
Dec 25 - The Shepherds: Luke 2v8–20
  • Jesus Storybook Bible: The Light of the Whole World

Recommended Reading

Jesus Storybook Bible

Sally Lloyd-Jones

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift

Ann Voskamp

Christmas at South Bay